Region

About the Pittsburgh Local Directory

Pittsburgh, second only to Philadelphia in population, is the runner-up as the largest city in
Pennsylvania and is the largest urban area in Allegheny County. The city sits at the confluence of the Ohio,
Allegheny, and Monongahela Rivers. As visually scenic as it is socially interactive, the area features
lovely geography, which has been artfully shaped by the three rivers of the area into an exquisite
combination of hillsides, plateaus, and narrow valleys.

An Overview of Allegheny County

Allegheny County is the principal county of the Pittsburgh metro area. The county is located in the
southwest portion of the state of Pennsylvania.

In our use, the term Allegheny County Directory refers to the counties of Allegheny and West Westmoreland
and the cities located within these areas. Sorted by geographic location within the region, Allegheny County
and the neighboring Pittsburgh area encompass the following cities:

The Climate of Allegheny County

Due to its Northern position, Allegheny County experiences a full complement of the seasons. The local
parks are known for their beauty in the fall. The area averages 36 inches of rain per year that is
distributed equally amid the glorious seasons, nourishing local vegetation as well as the dense forests on
the outskirts of the city. Summers average 82.5 degrees and are humid. The average temperature in the winter
is 33.7 degrees with snow accumulating during the winter months and March often the taking the brunt of it
as the most snow-drenched month.

History of the Region

The Iroquois first inhabited the area and predominately controlled the region until 1763. In 1753, a
young George Washington recommended a military fort be located at the junction of the three rivers that
define the Pittsburgh region. The area was of major military significance during early American History, yet
throughout its heritage changed hands three times from early Republic control to the French and then to the
British. During the British occupation in 1760, the area was named Fort Pitt (Pitts borough) after William
Pitt. With a major attribute being its site location at the junction of the three rivers, the fort became
vital as a major trade junction for goods going west. In 1816 the city of Pittsburgh was incorporated into
the union and began the transformation into the city many modern Americans call home.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the city expanded rapidly and grew into a major industrial site while
also developing into an active hub of commerce. From boat building and iron works to petroleum and steel
production, the city grew rapidly and experienced intense cycles of growth, which directly formed the city's
individual dynamic. Although modern Pittsburgh, sometimes known as the 'Iron City', is still a major
producer of steel, the city has since become synonymous with the fields of medicine and science, to which it
contributes extensive research and exploration of established concepts.

With the extraordinarily beautiful scenery and celebrated legacy of the area, the city of Pittsburgh is
an upbeat and interesting place to live. The entire region offers a wide variety of senior living options
and related senior care services as well as providing an extensive range of services for seniors that can
only be found in large urban areas of the country.

Attractions of the Area

The history of Pittsburgh reflects early American heritage, specifically the history of Pittsburgh
industrialists such as Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick. Around the city of Pittsburgh are numerous
examples of 19th century entrepreneurial influence seen in such sites as the Phipps Conservatory, Lost
Kennywood Park, The Carnegie's Museum of Natural History, Duquesne Incline, Mt. Washington Hillside and the
Frick Art & Historical Center, to name a few.

Some of the more prominent attractions in the area are the local riverboats. With three magnificently raw
rivers in the area, today's recreational riverboat industry is thriving. Begun in the early 1950's, the
potential for recreational river traffic was recognized and the waters were established as not only
commercial profit venues but as recreational resources as well.

A distinctive array of entertainment and sightseeing options are also available in the city of Pittsburgh
as well. Some of these specialty attractions include the Nationality Rooms at the Cathedral of Learning,
Mount Washington, the Andy Warhol Museum, the Frick Car and Carriage Museum, Hartwood Acres and Mansion, the
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens and the Pittsburgh Aquarium, all wonderfully interesting and
thoroughly enjoyable.

Also, distinctive in the city of Pittsburgh is the renowned "Small Town Charm", which is a
quality the city is known for. Although the Iron City is a sizeable contemporary metropolis, the city has
many small, close-knit neighborhoods throughout its reaches, giving many the sense of community and shared
purpose amid the demanding pursuits of the city.

Below is a breakdown of cities in and around the Pittsburgh area:

Baldwin – Featuring a population around 20,000 and a suitable location near the thriving
Pittsburgh area, Baldwin is an averagely sized city with much to offer its residents.

Carnegie – Known as a colorful ethnically diverse region of Pittsburgh, Carnegie includes
a myriad of churches, restaurants and community locales tailored to the cultures of many living in the Iron
City. Despite its name, there were never any large steel mills in the city of Carnegie, seeing as it isn't
situated along a river.

Dormont – Dormont is a suburb of Pittsburgh located in Allegheny County Pennsylvania and
has a population of just over 9,000.

McKees Rocks – Located in Allegheny County, McKees Rocks had a population of 6,622 as of
the 2000 census and lied along the west bank of the Ohio River. Home to several neighborhoods including
Preston, Meyers Ridge and West Park, McKees Rocks is an individual Pittsburgh exurb where many native
Pennsylvanians reside.

Mount Oliver – Mount Oliver, a borough of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has a small population
of approximately 4,000 and is positioned approximately three miles West of the Monongahela River.

Transportation of the Region

The Port Authority of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh and surrounding areas is a widespread systematic
combined plan of bus ways, a 25-mile light rail system, known as the T, and two inclines, the Monongahela
and the Duquesne, which transport passengers up steep gradients 400-650 in length. Within the regions of
Allegheny county and Pittsburgh, senior citizens ride free with proof of age and Pennsylvania ID cards, and
are also able to utilize ACCESS transit advanced reservation services that provide door-to-door
transportation assistance to seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Senior Services in the Allegheny County

The urban areas of Allegheny and West Westmoreland Counties offer seniors a variety of specialty housing
choices ranging from independent retirement communities, continuum of care communities, assisted living,
skilled nursing, Alzheimer's assisted and Alzheimer's skilled nursing. Other senior services in the area
include a wide choice of home health care, home medical services and senior support services. The state of
Pennsylvania offers a Senior Interests Program, which plan and perform specially-tailored activities
including pastimes like group sports and luncheons, while also providing invaluable government and referral
support, such as tax preparation, housing rebates and transportation assistance, just for seniors. Use our
Search Senior Services link to learn more about the variety of senior housing and senior support services
located in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

Visit our Local Links web page to learn more about this area and use our Search
Senior Services to find senior services. Tell companies you found them through SeniorsResourceGuide.com.